Brooder



- March s, v1946.

A. A. 4wELBoRN BRoonER A(1944 4A sheets-sheet 1 Filed Sept 26 Marh 5, 1946. A. A. wELBoR-N BRoQDER Filed Sept. 26, 1944 4 sheets-sheet 2 March 5, 1946. -A. A. wLBoRN BROODER 4 sheetsQ-sneet 4 Filed Sept. 26, 1944 Patented Mar. 5, 1946 UNIT ED" STATES O F FI C E BROODERL ArthurA." Welborn; .Rogers',-.Arki' Application September 26,'1944;.Sria1No.`555,S,33

(canesill 12= Claims.

The-present invention relatesl to. brooders and,

more.A particularly, to simple, efcientvand economical means-for housingV chicks, ducklings and otherfyoungfowl or birds..

An important .feature ofthe.. invention consists in providing.aventeddouble cover or hood havingfa lowerorinnerecoverand a spaced outer cover f constituting l the. hover of the. brooder. Suitableheating'.l means are associatedy with the broodeninsucha mar: lner.- V as to insure the. heat Circulating; ,uniformityunder.v the brooder without creating; an .undesirable draft. Thev lowerV cover wfhich, ,preferably,l is of conical. shape isclosed attheatop .and.` opened at the :bottom While the outerfcoveris of similar shape vand is opened both atthe top,` and the bottom., andithe heating units arefsodisposed:relativento the `covers as to cause the lheatedlair. circulating; through the ybro-oder to pick up. or: absorb. any, moisture that may collect within fthe.. broeder. Additionally, the. space. be.- tzu/c1211...the;` covers of; the brooder Vconstitutes meansfor. removing; .foul air from the y floor or the: ground; and discharges the same -y through aA centrally disposed draft; nue vvent, thus .insure ingragzconstant flow offresh heatedrair'. under the brooder from the; .bottom .'or. vopenzen'd zthereof.;

Otherrobjvects and: advantages of `the` invention will'become apparent .from the following descrip?- tion :when taken -in `conjunctionfw-ith the accom.'- panying-fclaims: and drawings. Referring tov the drawings in which -are shown several preferred embodi-ments`v of the invention,

Figure 1 is Ya. vertical, seetionalviewof f the brooder constructed'in accordance-with the pres'- ent invention,

Figure'2 is a 'sectional' plan view taken substant tiall'y'ialongr the line 2-2 vof Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a bottom'view'ofFigure 1,:

Figure 4 is a. detailed plan* vijewofone of :the

. Ycor'nbu.Stien.chambers.

Figure isaside elevation of Figure 4,', l Figure 6 isan.- end view of figure.. 4,

zontalarms lZlofthebars by..any. suitable means suchasthe. threadedlbolts I4 and nuts I3 (Fig.- ure=10l)andlhasit`s upper end I5 closed. Leg members. I6. are connected'to the Tower end of thebarsltllasat. Il(Figure 9) so as tokspace the open ybottomlof. tilt-.cover .II away from the floor orground..4 Thefeetlor leg members .I 6 are prefl erably ofV-shapehaving. a wide ground-contacting base.I8 so.as..toconstitute a nrm support for f the brooder.l

An `outer.v conical shaped cover I 9 surrounds th`e.inner.4 cover II and is spaced therefrom by the...b`race members 2U po-sitioned adjacent the n vuppergand lowerfends. ofthe covers. Preferably, theabracey membersare. formed with flanges ZI -and.".22. (Figure.A 10) andthe flanges 2| are securedJto.thegouterV cover I9V by the threaded bolts 23o and Anuts .2.'4.wl1i1'e the flanges 22 are arranged tofrestagainstthe lower cover I I so that theouter cover. I9"lmay,.if -desired,.be removed. from the Figure# is adetaled lon-gitudinal`, sectional view. vof .the upper end of the.. combustion. chamber,r

Figur-e8.A is` a sectional view taken substantially alongtheline 8--8 .of Figure 4,A

Figure ;9 .isa .detailedTplar-l. View.. of. 'one of the Supporting legs,.. Figure .10 is. an enlargedA sectionalview. taken substantially alongfthe -line :I 0..-I Ilof Figure 1,

Figure l1-isa detailed side=view-. with partsin sectionE `showing fa modiiiedfforrnl oflegstructure connecte-d to the brooder,

,conilgurations4 breode'rf.P Thetop orA upper end of the outer coverl 9 -is.r.,r rovided:withn an annular opening 25. Thelower ends-.ofthe 4coversmay be beaded as .t.26ltoV receivelan. annular rod 2l vsoas to reinforce.andstrengthen.v the same. Each of the covers I I andjl.9.may be .constructed of any suitabIeLmetaLandQ.formedeither.in one piece or Separateonnected.lsections, and whil-e prefer- Y ably-,offconical shape may .assume other desired Preferably; four uniformly. spaced heating units.28..arle .associated with the brooder and as each ofthese-.unitsissubstantially the same in .construction,.and.. operation,A only one will be specicallygA described.` Each heating unit may comprise a substantiallyrectangular housing or Vcasing 28"(Fig`ure .4) connected to the underside of thelovverv cover I IA adjacent the bars I Il by bolts Grothersuitable fastening means 29. The interior.. of "each housing. .28." is ,divided centrally by fapartitionplate 30 intotwo separate combustionchambrs 37|'. and 32 'which' communicate with each other. =throughlan. opening. v33. adjacent. the

upper end of the partition 35 so as to insure the heated gases circulating through the housing and distributing the heat uniformly under the brooder. A main gas supply line 34 (Figure 3) communicates with four branch supply pipes 35 by a coupling 3G connected to one of theV supply pipes. Each of the pipes 35 connects at its upper end to a central fitting 31 and is arranged to fit longitudinally within the space between the arms of the L-shaped bars I (Figure 10) and is suitably bent or provided with elbows 38 and 39 (Figure 4) so as to extend through an opening 40 in one end of the housing 23 and be connected to a slotted cap jet gas burner 4| in the chamberY 3|. The opening 45 in the housing 28 is provided with a rotatable perforated cap 42 for Vadjustably controlling the supply of air into the chamber` 3| so as to provide a proper combustible mixture; The products of combustion or heated gas fromv the chamber 3| are conducted into the chamber 32 through the opening 33 in the partition 35. Vent pipes 43 positioned between the covers and I9 communicate through elbows 44 at the lower ends thereof with flanged openings 45 in the chambers 32 so as to withdraw the heated gases therefrom. Each elbow`44 is securely fastened to the flanged opening 45 as at 4B to prevent the escape of heated gases at the point of connection. The upper discharge ends of the vent pipes 43 extend through the opening 25 in the outer cover and into a removable tubular draft cap diverter 41 which is suitably mounted on the brooder immediately above the opening '25.-` The diverter 41 is preferably of frusto-conical shape and is provided above the outlet of the vent pipes 43 with spaced baffles 48, preferably of progressively decreasing diameters, and communicates at its upper reduced end with a vent discharge flue 49. The vent or gas discharge pipes 43 provide heat radiating surfaces which coact with the walls of the housings 28 and the inner cover to provide a substantial heat radiating area that thoroughly and uniformly heats the space beneath the hover of the brooder. The opening in the top of the cover |9 vallows heated air circulating through the space between the covers to be discharged into the room in which the brooder is located toheat the same.

Each housingv 28 has a fiat top 50 (Figure 10) that contacts at its corners with the curved portion of the inner cover thus providing a space or clearance 5| between the housing and the cover to permit the slow circulation of the heated air under the brooder without creating any undesirable draft which quite frequently causes the loss of chicks or other poultry or young birds protected by the brooder. Preferably, the bottom 52 of the housing 28 is formed at its opposite edges with inwardly extending flanges 53 that cooperate with complementary flanges 54 on the housing-28 to provide a removable or slidable lidto permit ready access to the chambers 3| and 32 to clean the same or to adjust the burners. The gas supply 1in-e 34 is preferably provided with a thermostat 55 (Figure l) for automatically controlling the temperature under the brooder within the desired range and a valve Y 56 for regulating the flow of the gas or other heating medium to the burners.

The upper cover I9 is removable so that in warm weather and when it is not necessary to heat the room, the cover |9 may be detached from the brooder. At the same time the flow of the fuel to the burners may be controlled to provide the desired amount of gas or fuel to properly heat the brooder, so as to economize on fuel consumption. The brooder is of such size and is spaced from the ground the desired distance to accommodate the chicks, and the heating units 21 are disposed adjacent the outer perimeter of the inner cover to insure the chicks being kept warm without danger of being subjected to an undesirable draft.

In operation, the thermostat 55 is set at the desired temperature and the valve 56 turned on and the four burners are lit so that the heat generated will completely warm the entire brooder house and, at the same time, maintain the desired temperature required under the brooder at a very low cost of fuel consumption. As the heated gases discharge upwardly through the vent pipes43 into the diverter 41, they are broken up by the bailles 48 so as to slow up their speed of discharge prior to being delivered to the vent pipe 49. The parts are constructed and arranged so as to be readily dismantled for the purpose of inspection and repair and, when once in cperation, the temperature of the brooder is maintained automatically at the' -desired range, and

the heated air circulates under the brooder Vwithout creating an undesirable draft.

I In the modied form ofthe invention shown in Figure 11, the brooder is substantially the same in construction and operation as the form previously described. Instead of the fixed legs I6, adjustable supporting members or feet are provided which comprise a pair of spaced depending arms 51 pivoted as at 58 tothe lower end of each of the bars I5. A brace 59 is also pivotally connected as at 60 to the arm I0. A substantially triangular shaped foot 6| (Figure 13) has parallel spcedupwardly extending arms 62 between which extend the arms 51. The arms 51 and G2 are provided with a series of vertically disposed spacedY openings 63 and the brace 59 with two spaced openings |54. A pair of threaded bolts 65 arerarranged to extend through the aligned openings 63 in the bars 51 and arms 62 and the openings 64, so that upon the application of the nuts $6 to maintain the parts in a fixed position. Thus, it will be seen that each foot 6| may be adjusted'vertically relative to the brooder so as to -properiy space the same away from the floor or .ground by removing the bolts 65 and nut 66 and adjusting the footv6| to the desired length and then'rinserting the bolts through the pair of `openings in the brace 59 andthe aligned openings163 in the bars 51vand the sides V62 so that .upon tightening up the nuts 66, the parts are secured firmly in position. The brace 59 is arranged to be positioned between the arms 51 and when connected to the foot 6| and the arms 51 through the bolts 55, insure the feet being maintained lin their 'adjusted position.

Thus, it will be seen that the vented double cover of the brooder provides means for uniformly distributing the heat over the entire area covered by the brooder without the creation of draft. Moreover, the circulation of the heated air between the housings 28 andthe lower cover through the passages 5| coacts with the heat radiated from the vent pipes 2B to pick up or absorb any moisture that might accumulate under the brooder. The space between the covers also serves to remove -foul or contaminated air from the floor or ground and dischargesjthe same upwardly through the diverter 41 to4 the vent pipe 49, thus insuring the circulation of clean air at the proper temperaturegunder the'brooder and into the room.

gaseosa f ifi-Wilkesessere@;@sarthe farms-@feine brigadier@ and-fthe spore-Mathe 2. A brooder comprising a frame, a cover sup- Y ported bysaid frame, heating chambers beneath said cover adjacent the lower edge thereof, heating pipes leading from Said chambers through and above said cover to its top, and a second cover spaced from said Vrst-named cover and having an open top to which said pipes deliver.

3. A brooder comprising a frame,v a substantially conical shaped cover supported by said frame and closed at its top, combustion chambers beneath said cover adjacent the lower edge thereof, burners in said chambers, pipes leading from said chambers through and above said cover to its top, and a second cover spaced from and enclosing said first-named cover and pipes and having an open top into which said pipes deliver.

4. A brooder comprising a frame, a substantially conical shaped cover supported by said frame and closed at its top, combustion chambers beneath said cover adjacent the lower edge thereof, burners in said chambers, pipes leading from skilled in uieart without departing fromsaid chambers through and above said cover v to its top, a second cover spaced from and enclosing said first-named cover and pipes and having an open top into which said pipes deliver, and means for removably mounting the second coveron the brooder.

5. A brooder comprising a frame having spaced downwardly and outwardly inclined bars, a cover connected to said bars, heating chambers beneath said cover adjacent its lower edge, heating pipes leading from said chamber through and above said cover to the top of the bars, adjustable legs connected to the lower ends of said bars for supporting the brooder above the ground, each leg including an upper portion and a lower ground engaging portion, the lower portion being movable longitudinally relative to the upper portion, braces pivoted at their upper ends to said bars, and means for adjustably securing the leg portions and the braces in a xed position. y

6. A brooder comprising a frame, a substantially cone shaped lower cover supported by said frame andl closed at its top, combustion chambers beneath said cover and spaced circumferentially around the lower edge thereof, burners in said chambers, an Vouter conical shaped cover spaced from said lower cover, and pipes leading from said combustion chambers through said lower cover and extending upwardly between said covers for discharging the products of combustion from the brooder.

7. A brooder comprising a frame, a substantially cone shaped lower cover supported by said frame and closed at its top, combustion chambers beneath said cover and spaced circumferentially around the lower edge thereof, burners in said chambers, an outer conical shaped cover spaced from said lower cover and having an opened top, and pipes leading from said combustion` chambers .throughsa'idz lo'vverJ cover,y and; eX- teridingupwardly between` said.y covers into .the opening. ofithefoter cover. forV dischargingI the products.,ofcombustionfrom the brooder.

8s..Aibroodencomprisingaframe having spaced downwardly.. anda outwardly. inclined bars. pro.-

videdrwith. legsamtheir lowerv` ends, a substantially)y conical. shaped f inner. coverr supported; by saidlbars andhavinga closed top, an ,outerfcone Ashaped.cover spacedl fromsaid inner. coverand Vhavii'igianbpen rtop,y av tubular draft capr diverter mountedcnlthe brooder above` said open top,

vcombustion.chambers .connectedto the underside 'ofiftliinnerlcoverradjacentthe loweredgethere.- of;` the intermediate-portions. of said 1combustion chambers being spaced from the inner cover to provide air circulating passages, burners in said chambers, pipes leading from said chambersv through and above said inner cover and extending upwardly between said covers into said diverter for withdrawing the products of combustion from the brooder.

9. A brooder comprising a frame having spaced downwardly and outwardly inclined L-shaped bars, legs connected to thelower ends of said bars, a substantially conical shaped inner cover supported by said bars and having a closed top, an outer cone shaped cover spaced from said inner cover and having an open top, housings connected to the underside of the inner cover adjacent the lower edge thereof, each of said housings having a partition therein dividing the same into separate combustion chambers, a burner in -one of said chambers, said partition having an ing branch pipes disposed adjacent said bars, each of said branch pipes being connected with a burner, and the other chamber in each of said housings having a pipe communicating therewith and extending through the lower cover and upwardly between said covers for discharging the products of combustion from the brooder.

10. A brooder comprising a frame having spaced downwardly and outwardly inclined L- shaped bars, legsconnected to the lower ends of said bars, a' substantially conical shaped inner cover supported by said bars and having a closed top, an outer cone shaped cover spaced from said inner cover and 'having an open top, housings connected to the underside of the inner cover adjacent the lower edge thereof, each of said housings having a partition therein dividing the same into separate combustion chambers, a burner in one of said chambers, said partition having an opening adjacent one end for communicating said chambers with each other, a fuel supply line having branch pipes disposed adjacent said bars, each of said branch pipes being connected with a burner,the otherchamber in each of said housings having a pipe communicating therewith and extending through the lower cover and upwardly between said covers for discharging the products of combustion from the brooder, and the intermediate portions of said housings being spaced from the inner cover to provide air circulating passages within the brooder.

11. A ybrooder comprising a frame having spaced downwardly and outwardly inclined bars, vertically adjustable legs connected to the lower ends of said bars, means for maintaining the legs in a xed adjusted position, a substantially conical shaped inner cover supported by said bars and 4having a closed top, an'outer cone shaped cover top, combustion chambers connected to the un'- derside of the inner cover adjacent the lower edges thereof, pipes leading from said chambers through and above said inner cover and extending up- .wardly between said covers into the open top of the outer cover, and a vent flue communicating with the upper ends of said pipes for withdrawcover spaced from said inner cover and having an open top, combustion chambers connected to the underside of the inner cover adjacent the lower edge thereof, pipes leading from said chambers through and above said inner covery and extending upwardly between said covers into the open top of the outer cover, a vent flue communieating with the upper ends of said pipes for withdrawing the products of combustion from the brooder, and the intermediate portions of said combustion chambers being spaced from the inner cover to provide air circulating passages within the brooder.

ARTHUR A. WELBORN. 

